Art of manufacturing wire rqpes and cables



lm W m. 8 .M u q .J y m S4 Y. f Hm MP d C. A\B\\ LVCAI. s Mm.. LRa QN@ u m \N Mm Wm U ww KN.

.M `@LA nr. U N A F 9 O rnuV 0L 1 Y 1 s T y. um. W m .l w 2 M 0. M m N \No Model.) i 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. A. WISWELL. m

ART 0F MANUFACTURING WIRE ROPES AND CABLES. No. 276,315. Patented Apr. 24,1883..

(No Model.)

A ART OP MANUFACTURING WIR @GPRS AND CABLES.

. No.. 276,315. tented Ap1.24,1883..

f7? z/ezz for.

/ze I N. PETERS. FhawLnhugrapmr. wnhinglnn. D. c

( No Model.) '7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I'. A. WISWELL. ANT 0F MANUFACTURING WINE ROPNS AND CABLES.

'N0.`276,315. u Patented Ap1-.24,188s.

N. PLTS@ mefLtmgnpner, wuhingmm u4 c.

l (No Model.) 7 sheets--sheem 5.- y I'. A. WISWBLL.

ART OFMANUFATRING WIRE ROBES AND CABLES.

No. 276,315.v Pate-ntedApr.24,1883.

e Y 5g /2 W m pner ashmgmn Dc..

AD. .TJ e au. h s w e e h S .7 L L, H- W S I W A R (No Model.)

ART OF MANUFACTURING WIRE ROPESl AND CABLES.

lPatented Apr.,24

(No Model.) 7 sheets-sheen 7. P. A. WISWELL'.

` ART OP MANUFACTURING WIRE ROPES AND CABLES. No. 276,315; Patented A131224, 1883.

\ N. PETERS. Fhnbmognpmf, wamingmn. D.C.

1 is a side elevation of a machine adapted for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. WISWELL, OF BEEBE PLAIN, ASSIGNOR T() CHARLES C.

CCLBY, OF STANSTEAD, QUEBEC, CANADA. l p

ART oF MANUFACTURING WIRE Ropes AND CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,315, dated April 24, 1883.

Application tiled September 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern: l

Be itknowu that LFREDERICK A. Wis-1 WELL, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Beebe Plain, in the county of Stanstead and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Manufacturing WVire Ropes and Cables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvementsin the art of manufacturing wire ropes and cables,the" purpose being to obtain a rope or cable in 'which the strain applied thereto will be borne by all the wires, and to obtain a superior working-rope and materiallylessen the cost of same. To effect these results I lay individual wires around a core to i'orma cord, next lay individual wires around a core to form a strandcore, next lay the cords around the strand-` core to form a strand, and lastly lay a number of the strands around amain or rope core toV form the rope, all 'in onecontinuous operation secondly, I lay individual wires around` cores to form cords, next lay the cords around strand-cores to form'strands, and lastlylay the strands around a main or rope core to form the rope, all inaone continuous operation.

The following description, together with the drawings, describes and shows a machine for` practically carrying out my improvement, and the claims indicate the nature thereof'.`

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, Sheet carrying out my invention, some of the part-s being broken away to more clearly illustrate the principal working portion of the same. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of themachine. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a rear elevation thereof, the band-wheel and thevi'eight to be f placed on the friction-lever being removed.

Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 5, Sheet 4, is a detail view of one of the general heads, with four of the cord-shafts removed and another broken away to show the tube passing through the same. 'Fig. 6 is a longitudinalvertical section of Fig. 5. Fig.

7is afront elevation of one of the general heads. Fig. S is a rear elevation of thesamc.

Fig. 9, Sheet 5, is a detail view of part ofthe drawing-off mechanism as seen from the side thereof 'farthest removed from the drawing-oit' wheel. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the same yon line y 'l1/,of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 isa similar view on line zz, Fig. 9." Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13,

Sheet 6, is a longitudinal vertical section ot'4 one of the cord shafts with accompanying mechanism. Fig. 14 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on line x .fr of Fig. 13, looking inthe direction ofthe arrow 2. Fig. 15 is a similar view on line w w, Fig. 13, looking in the direction ot' the arrow l. Fig. 1li is a sectional detail view of a part of one of the cordshafts, showing the slotted tube with the key` p' projecting through the slot. Fig. 17 isa plan view ot one of the spools on a spool-arm, showing the disposition of the holding springbutton. Figs. 1S, 19, 20, and 21 are sectional details of.` Fig. 17, showing the various positions of the parts in the act of securing the spool on the spool-arm and after the same is held thereon. Fig. 22 shows detail views in section and elevation ofthe main or rope laying head and die. Fig. 23 shows details in elevation and section of one of the spiders which act in connection with the strand-laying heads. Figs. 24. and 25 are enlargeddetails of the rear end of the strand-shaft, showing the arrangement ot' the thumb-nut and-its coilspring thereon, the latter gure being in section. Fig.- 26 isla transverse section `of the tiller-rope,77 showing the arrangement of the wires and cores. Fig. 27 is a similar view of Vthe transmission-rope;7 and Fig. 28 is an enlarged detail view of one of the cord-shafts I, showing the inclined pathot' a wire. Fig. 29 is a transverse vertical section on line x x of Fig. 6, showing the extent ot' the huh k with its arms K broken away and the arrangement of the openings f3.

Corresponding parts in the several gures are denoted by similar characters of reference. i In the accompanying drawings, A marks a frame of suitable strength and dimensions to support the operatin g machinery. i

B is a central hollow shaft, having its rear end supported in bearings e a', secured upon 2 l amers cross-pieces a3 of the frame A, and its forward end held into the rope-laying head C, which in turn rests upon bearings a?, attached to a crosspiece, a4, forming part of the frame A. This 5 rope-laying head C is made solid or in theform ota shell, as convenience may dictate, and is provided with a number of oblique openings or passages, c', and a central opening or bore, c2, at its forward end, in line with the opening through the hollow shaft B. A die, c, is held in this bore c2 by means'ofa set-screw, c3, passing through the rope-laying head and into said die o. The die c is formed oflongitudinal sections, in the present instance of two pieces or halves, o4, one of which is provided with a depression, 05, in its face, extending its length, to receive the other half, having a corresponding projection, c6, so that the parts will register to form acylinder when placed inthe rope-laying head. The die c has a central opening, c7, throughout its length, of a diameter equal to that ofthe rope which is to pass through it. Further, the opening c7 ofthe die cis iiared at the rear end, as at ca, as particularly shown in Fig. 22, so that the strands passing from the strand-layinghead F2through the oblique openings c in the rope-laying head will impinge against and be guided by such ared surface c8 to the rope-core in said die c, and thus be rope.` -When different-sized ropes are made,

dies c, having-correspondingly-sized lolieningsc7, are used. The purpose of forming the dies c in longitudinal sections c4 is to permit said sections to be inserted into the rope-laying head C without cutting the rope-core or the -rope itself,which passes through said rope-laying` head tothe drawing-offmechanism. One object for providing the depressions c5 and corresponding projection, c, in the sections c4 of the die c is to prevent sidewise play of the sections, should they-not tit-snugly in the bore c2 of the rope-laying head C also, to cause the circumferential surface ofthe central opening, c7, of the die c to be always preserved, and thus prevent damage to the rope that might otherwise occur from abrasion against the sharp edges'of the sections of said die. rlhe-die c may be provided with a collar, cf,integral therewith, at-its outer end, to limit its insertioninto the bore of the rope-laying head C. y'A hub, d, secured to the shaftB, has a number ot' radial arms, D, each provided at its extremity with a sleeve, d', to receive a hollow shaft, E, known in this connection as the strandshaft,7 the forward end ot' which is secured-in the hub 7c... f t

The strand core-laying-head F is composed, rst, of a piece,'f, (see Figs..5` and 6,) shaped somewhat similar to a truncated cone, with a reduced portion toft in the hub k, andhaving a central bore;-and,secondly, of a sleeve, f4, conforming to the outer-surface of-said piece f, andfree to rotate thereon. The sleeve f4 is held tothe piecejf, and-'the latter-in thel hub 7c and against the shaft Eby means of the tube j" screwing into the spider F3, which laid evenly around said rope-core to formthe pressesagainst said sleeve f4. (See Fig. 6.) Said tube j" extends rearwardly through said hollow shaft E, and receives an interiorlyscrew-threaded thumb-nut,f2. (See Figs. 24 a-nd 25.) A coil-spring,f5, encircles the nut f2 between the shoulder of said thumb-nut f2 and the end of shaft E, so that when said thumb-nut is screwed up the pressure exerted on the wires between the sleeve f4 and the piecefcomposing the strandcore-laying head F will be yielding, to permit any irregularsurfaces on the Wires to pass through said strandcore-laying head F, and thus prevent break- Iage of the wires.V

The hub 7c is provided with openings f3, as shown in Fig. 6, to direct the wires from the spools to the laying-head F. rlhe spider F5, having'the slots, as shown in Fig.'23, is designed, in connection with the guideways or grooves in the laying-head, to keep thewires out of contact with each other and insure their proper-laying around the core. The hollow shaft E is provided with spool-carriers L, having spools M, the latter being held to the arms l ofthe former by means ot' spring-buttons e, the said spool-carriers L, spools M, arms l, and spring-buttons e being inevery respect similar to the like recited parts on the cord-shafts I, to be presently described.

The sleeves d of the arms D, in which the shafts E freely revolve, are provided with arms or pins, d2, screwed therein, 4and carry corespools d3 and shields d, of like construction and-arrangement as those onthe sleeves of the arms H, arranged in connection with the cord-shafts I, as hereinafter described.

Considered alone,the laid strand-core is produced in thefollowing manner, viz: Upon imparting motiouto the strand-shaft E from they shaft -W, arranged back of the arms D, as described hereinafter, the wires contained on the spools M of said strand-shaft will pass through the strand-core-laying head'F and be laidv around the core, which extends from the core-spool di* to and through the hollow strandshaft E. 0f course in this operation of the machine, as well as in others? the wires must be drawn from the spools at a desired speed through the operation of the drawing-off mechanism.

Two arms, F', extend in a curved manner forwardly from the hub, k, and joining at their forward ends, the reduced portion f6 thereof entersthe strand-laying head F2 to support the latter in the mannershown in Fig. 6. they present instance the arms F are cast in one piecewith Athe hub 7c audits vertical arms K, and, as statedfhereinbetbre, the openings f3 are made through said hub. The strand-.

laying head F2 is further supported and firmly braced as against lateral pressure in the end of the arm Gr, radiating from the hub g, secured to the hollow shaft B. With the exception that the strand-laying head itself contains IOO IIO

openings F ,*asvshown in Figs.5and 6, to dicore -laying head 1F .described hereinbefore, and is provided alstrwvith a spider, F3, tube b', thumb-nut b2, and coilfspring b3, corresponding with lthe spider F3.,\;;.tubef, thumb-nut f2, and spring f5, connected-,with the strand-corelaying head F. By thismonstruction a space is provided between the :astrand-core-laying headrF and the rear end ofthe strand-layinghead mechanism, whereby adjustment of the latter can be made.

Journaled in a bracket, g2, attached to the end of each of the radial arms G,is a grooved pulley, g', the grooved surface ofwhich is in line with the bore of the strand-laying head F2, in order that the strands coming'ft'rom the strand-laying heads will pass over said pulleys on their way to the rope-laying headfC, and thus cause the strands to converge`at the proper angle from the contact-surface ot' said Firmly attached to each of the strand-shafts i E, immediately in front of the sleeve d on the end of each of the radial armsD,.is a hub, h,r having a number of radial arms, H, the eX` tremities ot' which are provided with sleeves h', to receive hollow shafts I, termed the cordshafts, the outer end of each ot' which is rmly secured in any suitable manner in a cord-laying head, J,wl1ich has its forward end bearing in the end ot one of the series of radial arms K proceeding from hub la. The cord-laying head J is provided with a die,j, similar to the die c, employed iu the rope-laying head C, and is constructed in` general in manner similar to said rope-laying head (l, (see Fig. 13,) at-` tached to a bracket, k2. In each ofthe extremities of the arms K is a grooved pulley, 7c', of

t the same construction, and to serve the same purpose with relation to the cords as the grooved pulleys g do to the strands.

Held to the hollow cord-shafts I by means of set-screws Z2, or otherwise, are the spoolcarriers L, formed each of a hub, Z3, having threeradiatiug hollow arms, Z, inclining for# Vwardl-ynor at an acute angle with relation to different lengths, the end of the shorter of which is-bent at right angles thereto to meet the surface of the other arm, which latter eX- tends beyond said bent portion, andis itselt'bent` downward and then upward, so as to present a semicircular appearance. Thelonger arm is provided Awith a curved depression at about mid way of its length, in which rests the pin Z `of thespool-arm Z when the spring-button is inv` position to hold a spool, M, ou the spool-arm,

as shown in Fig. 21. Further, the reverselycurved end of the longer arm of the springbutton presses on the disk of the spool to au extent to overcome the spring7 in the wire coiled thereon, and prevent the too rapid uncoiling ofthe wire when the machine is in opleration. The object ot' inclining the spoolarms Z, as described, isto permit the wires to be evenly fed from the spools to the hereinafter-described tension mechanism at about the proper angle, and prevent side-play of the uncoiling wire'against the coils on the spool, by which entanglement of the wire or its wedging or jamming with its coils on the spool is avoided.

By retaining the spool-holders L on the ho'l- Ylow cord-shafts with set-screws i2, I am enfabled to so arrange the said holders vthat the spool-carrying arms will be radiated from the hollow cord-shafts in diierent lines, by which the wires will be fed to the cord-laying head' .J withoutdanger of entanglement with one another.

Free to turn on the cord-shaft I, at a point between the spools and the cord-laying head J, is a disk, N, having an oblique or forwardlyinclined periphery, which receives a loose ring, 1pz, constructed to conform to the inclined suryface ot the disk, as particularly described in 1lhiteut No. 244,974, dated August 2, 1881, as granted to Edward M. Ball and Frederick A. ),Viswell. Fastened with a` set-screw, o', to the cordslial't I, immediately in rear of the Aloose disk IOO N, is a collar, O, against which the diskabuts,

aild which is provided with a number ot' bent fingers, o, on its periphery, the purpose ot' Lwhich will he presently set forth.

P` marks aifollower arranged in froutof the fdisk N, and having a number of radiating tinfgers,p, which serve, in connection with` the :bent lingers o, to lead the wires across the periphery otA the disk and below the ring at an IlO .tangle tothe line of draft from the spools`to the cord-laying head J, as shown in Fig. 2S, to cause .the disk N and ring a to rotate slowly atdiierent speeds, by which new surfacesot' theparts willconstantly be presented for wear,

as clearly set forth in the patent hereinbet'ore mentioned. The follower P is held to the disk byjmeans of a key, p', passing transversely through the hollow cord-shaft I, which is slotted, and through the tube p2, which. passes backwardly through the said cord-shaft and projects a short distance beyond, where it is exteriorally screw-threaded toreceive a thumbnut,'o2. A coil-spring,p", encircles the tube between Vthe thumb-nut o2 and the end of the cord-shaft.` By screwing up the nut the tubo carrying the key will be partially drawn `through the cord-shaft to press the xing -n against the disk N, to exert greater pressure on the wires passingbetween said ringand disk,by which the tensile strain is increased. 'Ihc coilspringpX allows the parts to yield to irregui lar surfaces in the wire; also, the threading of the wires between the disk and its ring is readily accomplished Vby unscrewing the nut to .loosen the parts. A stud or spool carrying arm, t", is screwed into the sleeve h on the end of the arm H to receive a spool, r, filled with the wire or textile core for the cord, said arm having the slots Z4, a pin, l', and spring-button l2, as in the case ofthe arms in the spoolholders L of the cord-shaft. The sleeve lL of the arm His also provided with a shield, r', curved rearwardly and outwardly to pass aroundthe gear m' and thumb-nut o2, at that point and then reversely curved to bring its free end at the mouth of the tube p2, so that the cord-core may pass from the. cord-corespool r, along the surface of the shield r', between the retaining-studs r2 thereon, to and into the tube p2, and thence pass by the key p' at its forward end and through a small opening in the tube at that end, to and through the vcord-laying head, to be incorporated into the cord. In the present instance the hub d has six radiating arms D, each carrying atits end a hollow shaft-,E, known herein as the strandshaft;7 which in turn carries a hub, h, having six radiating arms H, which support each one end of the Vhollow cord-shafts that carry the spool-holders, as described.

Referring now to the driving mechanism, S marks a band-wheel to carry a belt from a suitable motor, whose shafts has a small spurgear, s', conveying motion through the pair of idlegears u tothe gear-wheel u', which is keyed to the-hollow rope-shaft B to give motion to said shaft. The idle-gears u are journaled to an arm, u2, forming part of the sleeve U', encircling the main shaft, and free to turn thereon, carrying with it the arm u2 and idle-gears u to throw the shaft out of motion when desired. When in use the arm u2, carrying the idle-gears u, is held to the standard U by means of a bolt, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to insure the operation of the parts. A spur-gear, s2, is keyed to the forward end of the shaft s to mesh with the spur-gear V, loose on the main shaft B, immediately in front of the bearing a.

Firmly secured to the spur-gear V, and in front thereof, is a bevel-gear, u, into which ,mesh the pinions z2/,attached to theinner ends ofthe shafts W, which latter are held in bearings to, secured to the back of theradiating arms D, as clearly shown in the drawings. -The outer end ofeach ot' these shafts W is provided with a mitcr-gear, q, meshing with `second ruiter-gear, q', on the rear end of each f ot' the strand-shafts E to give motion to said shaftsin a reverse direction to that of the main shaft.

Held by a set-screw,x2, to the sleeve d',

which supports the rear end of the strand-r shafts E, is a spur-gear, X,with which meshes' an idle-gear, a', secured with ajournalbolt, x3, on the arm H, there being one of saididlegears, "fr, to each of the radiating arms H, and each gear :n in turn. meshes with a pinion, x', secured one to each of the cord-shafts I. From the fact that the gear-wheel X is held by the set-screw x2 to the sleeve d ofthe arm D, that the idle-gears x are held to the radiating arms H, and that the strand-shaft E in rotating carries the arms El around its axis, the gear X, fixed stationary with relation to the rotating strand-shaft E, will, when motion is imparted to strand-shaft E from' shaft W, rotate the idle-gears .fr on their axes, and cause the pinions x to rotate the cord-shafts in an opposite direction to that of the strand-shaft. When thevgear-wheel X is not held firmly to the sleeve, as set forth, itis free to rotate thereon, in which event the cord-shafts do not revolve on their own axes, but merelyaround the common axis ofthe strand-shaft. The object of causing the cord-shafts to revolve in an opposite direction to that of the strand-shafts and the strand-shafts oppositely to that of the main shaft will be presently shown.

A bevel-gear, Y, is keyed to the shaft s, and meshes with the bevel-pinion t secured to one end of the shaft y', `journaled in-bearings g3, attached to the frame A, which receives at its other end a bevel-gear, y2, meshing into a bevel-pinion, z, on the shaft Z, disposed at right angles to the shaft y', and having its rearend heldin one arm of a double sleeve,z, whose other arm encircles the shaft y. This construction permits play of that end of the shai'tZ when the other end is raised or lowered, for purposes to be presently set forth. The forward end of the shaft Z receives a worm, z2, meshing with a worm-gear wheel, z3, secured to a shaft, Z', disposed at rightangles to the shaft Z. The shaft Z is supported at its forward end in a bearing, w', adjnstably secured by bolts urz in a slotted standard, Z2, attached to the frame A at that point, to enable the vertical adjustment ot' said shaft when worm-gear wheels of different sizes are used. The shaft Z has one of its bearings, w3, secured to the frame A and the other, w, to a plate,1,itself fastened to the frame A. A miter-gear, Z", is attached to the inner end of the shaft Z', that meshes with a second miter-gear, Za,.keyed to the Vertical shaft 2, having bearings in the plate 1 and the bracket 3, secured to the plate 1. Keyed to the said shaft 2, below the mitergear, isa spur-gear, 2", meshing with a similar spur gear, 4X, arranged on a second vertical shaft, 4, held in bearings in the braeketB and plate 1, said spur-gear 4* working in the teeth 5", arranged on the bottom portion ofthe periphery ofa large wheel, 5, horizontally arranged on the vertical shaft @05, secured to the plate 13, which in turn is held to the frame A. This large wheel, which I term the drawingoit` wheel,77 is so arranged with relation to the bore in the main shaft B and the meeting edges of the drawing-ofi' rolls 6 (to be presentvly set forth) that its periphery willbe about on a line with said parts, so that as the rope comes from the rope-laying head C it may be coiled one or more times around the drawing-'olf wheel 5, and thence pass through the drawingoft'rollsGtoareelingdevice. Bypassin'gtherope IOO IIO

issuing from the rope-laying head one orl more times around the drawing-off wheel 5, which i is caused to rotate bythe/mechanism just described, and by keeping it taut thereon by means of the drawing-rolls 6, there will be sufficient friction between the rope and the drawing-off wheel 5 to prevent the former from slipping on the latter, and cause the wheel 5 therein.

Vdraws `it `from the rope-laying head.

to exert the necessary pulling or drawing strain on the rope to overcome the tension on the individual wires, and draw the rope from the rope-layin g head C at the required rate of speed.

` The drawing-rolls 6 are removably held to the splined vertical shafts 7 and 8, one of said shafts having its bearings in the plate 1 and bracket 3 and the other being held in bearings forming part of ,a swinging frame, 9, hinged on the vertical shaft 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The drawing-rolls 6 areintended not only to keep the rope taut on the drawing-olf wheel, but also to compress the rope more or less as is deemed advisable to renderit more compactand even and to straighten out or remove any possible irregularities When compressed by the rolls the rope is slightly increased in length, owing to such compression, and therefore I `canse the said rolls to draw the rope from the drawingof wheel 5` slightly `faster than the wheel V5 This 'slightly-increased speed of the drawing-rolls is obtained by having the diameter ofsaid rolls slightly greater than the diameterot' the pitchline of the gears onshafts 7 and 8, which carry said rolls. Were not this done-that is, increasing the surface speed of the rolls 6 over that of the wheel 5the rope would soon become slackened on the drawing-wheel 5, thereby rendering the latter quit-e useless for the purpose designed. After leaving the drawingoff wheel 5, and before reaching the drawingrolls 6', the rope passes over a roll, 20, pivoted in an arm, 19, attached to the bracket 3, to guide said rope to the drawing-rolls, as shown.

Since the drawing-off wheel 5 and drawingrolls 6 are geared to and receive motionfrom a common shaft, Z', and thus have a tixed relative motion, the diameter of the rolls mustbe increased or diminished according to the different sizes of rope to be made, so that the relative surface motion of the wheel 5 and `rolls 6 will be preserved. The swinging frame bracket 3, and having an adjusting-screw, 11,

to engagewith a stud,12, projecting from the swinging frame 9. Theswinging dog, with itsadjusting-screw, is also intended toregu-` late the degree of compression of the drawingrolls ontheirope. r i

Pivoted-in a bracket,2l,secured one to each `endot the plate 13, projecting on opposite sides cated cone, 14, having one or more grooves,

. 22, in its periphery, the bottom or working surface of each of which is cut at 'right angles to the longitudinal axis of said cone. The cones are arranged each upon an inclined axis,23, in close relation to the periphery of the drawing-oft'wheel 5, so that as the rope is coiled one or more time, around the said wheel itis passed through a groove in each of theeones-14 at relatively increased heights in the direction ot' the rotation of the wheel 5, in order that the rope passing onto the wheel 5 at its lower part will by the action of the grooved cones 14 .be lifted at points around the periphery of said wheel, so as to leave it at a higher i point to pass between the drawing-rolls 6, and to prevent the rope winding on itself or becoming twisted or scraped on the vsurface of the drawing-o wheel 5. The immediate object of `providing an inverted truncated cone,14, with the lower or working surface of its groove or grooves 22 at right` angles to the axis 23 of said cone is to canse the rope to be lifted upward and outward from the drawing-oft' wheel 5. Were the rope lifted or forced directly upward on the periphery of the drawing-oit' wheel 5, the wires would ,rub against one another and against the surface of the wheel and be dam,- aged more or less, especially so with reference to galvanized wire used in the manufacture ot' rope for shipsrigging. Y Besides,the rnpeitselt, owing `to its pressure on the wheel, willbe twisted more orless. The number otcones 14 or the grooves 22 in the cones'may` be varied as deemed necessaryoradvisable. Aftertherope leaves the drawing-rolls 6 it may be wound on a suitable reel attached to an extension ofthe frame A or to a separate frame.

Secured `to the rear end-of the frame A is a reel, 16, arranged below and `about in line with the bore of the main shaft B, said reel containing the rope-core which is passed through thehollowshaftB andincorporatedintotherope attherope-layinghead C. Alever,17,pivoted v may beguided from the reel 16 to the bore of the main shaft B by a shield, 26, as shown `in dotted lines-in Fig. l and in full lines in Figs.

3 and 4. i i i As now constructed `and described, the ina- .chine is capable of `making a rope for use as a bri dge-eable, and also as a transmission-rope, said rope being composed of six individual wires laid around a core to form Vwhat I term in this connection a cord,7 six wires laid around a core to form astrand-eore, sixof the `cords-mentioned above laid around a strand-V cord to forma strand, and six strands laid.

around a bunch of straightfwires or a textile rope toform the rope proper, as shown in Fig. 27. The machine is also capable of making what is known in the trade as tiller or steering rope. This rope requires to be very cxible, and is made of six individual wires laid around a wire or textile core to form a cord. Six cords are then laid around a textile core to form a strand, and six strands are laid around atextile core to form the rope, as shown in Fig. 26. It it is found necessary or desirable, a less number of wires, cords, or strands may be used, though I am of the beliet` that six is the proper number throughout for making tiller-rope. Y

Assuming that the spools M are filled with wire of proper size, the core-spools r di filled with the required cores, the reel 1G contains the proper rope-core, and the wires are drawn forward around the drawing-wheel 5 and through the drawing-rolls 6, the operation of the parts to effect laying individual wires around cores to form cords, next laying individual wires around cores to form strand-cores, next laying the cords around the strand-cores to form strands, and lastlylaying the strands around a main or rope-core to form the rope in a continuous operation will be as follows: Upon giving motion to the described driving mechanism the hollow cord-shafts I will be rotated around their axes, the individual wires will be drawn from the spools M on the spoolcarriers L on said shafts, and, after passing through the described tension mechanism, enter the cord-laying heads J and be laid around the cord-cores, passing from the cord -core spools 'r through the tubes p2 in said hollow cord-shafts I to form the cords. While revolving around their own axes the cord-shafts I are also carried or caused to revolve in an op-l posite direction around the axes of the strandshafts E. The rotation of the strand-shafts E ou their own axes causes the cords passing from the cordlayin g heads J over the rolls 7c' and into the strand-laying heads F2 to be laid around the strand-cores, which latter are laid simultaneously with the laying of the cords and pass from the strand-core-laying heads F to the strand-layin g heads F2 to form the strand. Simultaneously with the revolution of the cord-shafts I around their own axes, their revolution around the axis of the strandshaft E, and the revolution of the strandshafts E around their axes, the main shaft B is rotated on its axis, which, carrying the radiating-arms Gr D, supporting the strandshafts E, causes the latter to rotate around the common axis of said main shaft B. Thus rotating, the strands, issuing from the strandlaying heads F2 and passing over the rollers g contiguous thereto, to and into the rope-laying head C, are laid around the main or rope core to form rope, which, issuing from the die c at the end of the main shaft B, passes around the drawing-off wheel 5, one or more times, as is found necessary, thence over the roller 20, through the drawing-rolls 6, and onto a suitable reel, in the meantime the inverted peripheral grooved truncated cones 14 acting to lift the rope ou the drawing-ott` wheel 5, as described.

Instead of extending the wires from the main shaftB to and around the drawing-wheel 5 and through the drawing-rollsG, which amount of wire would become so much waste material, the said wires could be attached to a hook or eye in the end of a rope, which latter would 'be passed around the drawing-wheel 5 and through the drawing-rolls 6, so as to effect the proper operation of the drawing mechanism in connection with the other parts of the machine. When the hook or eye in the rope reached the cones 14 the latter should be removed by withdrawing their axial pins'23 from their supporting-frames 21, and be replaced as soon as the hook was drawn past. The drawing-rolls 6 can also be adjusted to effect this object by means of the swinging dog 10, with its adjusting-screw l1.

The rotation of the cord-shafts I with relation to the strand-shafts E, and of the latter with relation to the main shaft B, is about two to one. However, since the cord-shafts I revolve in areverse direction to the stran d-shafts E, and the latter in a reverse direction to the main shaft B, the gearing of said shafts is as three to one, to compensate for the lost revolution in each of the cord and strand shafts, caused by their reverse rotation relative to their preceding shafts.

The speed at which the rope is drawn ofi' may be varied by placing a larger or smaller worm-gear wheel, z3, on the shaft Z to mesh with the worm z2, the shaft Z being vertically adjustable to permit this change of gears, as stated hereinbefore.

The speed of the drawing-off mechanism regulates the amount of twist in the rope, its strands, and cords, since by increasing the speed of the drawing-off mechanism and not changing the speed of the laying mechanism thc rope is drawn off faster, and the twist is more in line with the longitudinal axis of the rope. The speed of the drawing-off mechanism can still further be varied by a change of the gears at the rear end ofthe shaft Z. If it is desired to lay the strands around the ropecore closer or more inline with the transverse axis of the rope while the twist or lay in the strands and cords remains unchanged, the

spur-gear s', which meshes with one of the pair of idle-gears u, is replaced by a larger gear to get au increased revolution 0f the main shaft, which will canse the rope-layin g head C to lay the strands around the rope-core faster to get the increased twist or lay, as stated. This will be more apparant when it is remembered that the strand and cord shafts do not receive motion directly from the main shaft, but from the double gear-wheel V o, loose on the main shaft, as described.

The operation of the machine to eect the laying of individual wires around cores to from cords, next laying the'cords around cores to f form strands, and `lastly laying the strands around a main or rope core to form the rope in one continuous operation is the same as that hereinbet'ore described, with the exception that the spools M on the strand shaft F and the strand -core-laying head are not used, as a textile core running from the corespool d3 on each of the strand-shafts through said hollow strand-shaft is designed to be used as the strand-core. (See Fig. 26.)

It will be seen 4from the foregoing that the machine must be properly threaded,77 as it is termed, and the wires carried to and around the drawing-oft' Wheel 5 and through the drawing-rolls 6, so that upon giving motion to thc machine the laying operations at the cordshafts, strand-shafts, and main shaft will begin simultaneously.

I use the terms designated herein as cords,7 strands, and rope` to mark the products of their respective shafts in preference to the nomenclature used in the manufacture of hempeu rope-viz., strands7 havvsers7 or ropes, and cablesf respectively-for the reason that the final products made by the machine herein set forth as carrying out my improvement are known generally and commercially as tiller or steering7 rope and transmission-rope. Y

The machinery illustrated in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification is intended simply to show in this connection means for practically carrying out my improvements in the art of manufacturing wire rope and cables; but I do not seek to claim in this application any part of such machinery, as the same is fully described and claimed in an application filed by me on the 11th day of July, 1882, No. 66,359, for an improvement in wirerope machines.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The improvement in the art ofmanufacturing rope which consists in first layingindisimultaneously performed substantially in the manner set forth. l

2. The improvement in the art of manufacturing rope which consists in first laying indi- -vidual wires around a core to form a cord, next laying a number ot' the cords around a core to form a strand, and lastly laying a number of the strands around amain or rope core to form finally the rope, the whole simultaneously performed, but at progressively forward points in the process of manufacture, substantially as set forth.

3. The improvement in the art of manufacturing rope which consists in first laying individual Wires, subjected to tension applied directl y thereto, around cores to form cords, next laying Wires around cores to form strand-cores, next laying the cords around the strand-cores to form strands, and finally laying a number of the strands around a main core to form the l rope, the whole simultaneously performedsubstantially in the manner set forth.

4. The improvement in the art of manufacturing rope which consists in rst laying individual wires, subjected to the tension applied' FREDERICK A. WISWELL.

.Witnesses y GEO. H. House, C. C. BEEBE. 

